About Laura
Laura Coates studied theater and speech before turning to law. She earned a B.A. from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2005 and completed her J.D. at Georgia State University College of Law in 2011. Her academic path combines an interest in communication with legal training, a background that informs how she approaches client interviews and courtroom work.
Her early legal experience came during law school and immediately afterward. In 2011 she worked as an intern with the Fulton County Metro Conflict Defender, where she handled intake, client interviews and supported trial teams on a range of criminal matters. That same year she worked as a building lawyer for Robert J. Semrad & Associates, taking on responsibilities that involved case preparation and courtroom appearances. These positions gave her direct exposure to courtroom procedure and the day-to-day demands of public defense and litigation.
In 2012 she joined Daniels & Taylor, P.C. as an associate. At the firm she has worked on both criminal and family law matters, handling hearings, motions and contested proceedings. Her time in the public defender’s office and in a private litigation setting shaped her practical approach. She has experience drafting pleadings, conducting investigations and representing clients at various stages of the process.
Coates maintains professional involvement through membership in the State Bar of Georgia’s Family Law and Criminal Law Section. That affiliation connects her to practitioners who litigate child custody, divorce and criminal defense issues. Participation in the section provides access to continuing legal education and peer discussion of evolving case law and statutory changes in Georgia.
Her practice blends trial-facing work and client counseling. She regularly appears in state court and focuses on matters that require both negotiation skills and courtroom advocacy. Colleagues describe her work as steady and procedural-minded; clients encounter a lawyer accustomed to organizing case files and preparing evidence for hearings. Outside court, she spends time preparing discovery, coordinating with experts and advising clients on procedural options.
As of 2026 Coates continues her practice at Daniels & Taylor, P.C., handling criminal defense and family law matters in Georgia state courts. She concentrates on representing clients in contested proceedings and related pretrial work.
